COLUMBIA, S.C. — The 2024 national champion South Carolina women’s basketball team is gearing up for another exciting season and so are gamecock fans, as we approach the November 14th home-opener at the Colonial Life Arena.
Head coach Dawn Staley expressed the team’s enthusiasm for the upcoming season and their desire to bring home another championship.
“They’ll let you know exactly how they’re feeling. They want to go win another one. They want to go undefeated. When you get a taste of it, you really want to follow up,” Staley said.
After last season’s historic win, Gamecock students are confident in the team’s ability to make history again by becoming the first University of South Carolina women’s basketball team to win back-to-back national titles.
“I think we should prove all the doubters wrong and win again. That would be three out of four for me, and I will be in the fountain this year,” said USC senior Jackson Murphy, referencing the campus tradition of celebrating national championship wins.
While Staley acknowledged the team’s overall talent, she admitted the loss of former player Kamilla Cardoso will be felt this season.
“There’s just going to have to be a collective effort from not just the bigs. You know, our guards have to bring it too,” Staley explained. “It’s going to take the strength of an entire roster.”
The 2024 roster will include some new faces, including South Carolina native and Camden High School graduate Joyce Edwards, who will play forward for the Gamecocks.
“I mean, it feels like Joyce has been a part of our program for a long time because she’s a South Carolinian,” Staley said with a smile.
Despite the changes, Gamecock students are hopeful that the loud and unwavering fan support at Colonial Life Arena will continue.
“It’s a madhouse in there. Everybody wearing white when they give out T-shirts—it’s just purely electric, and I think it really helps the team pull through in those close games,” Murphy said.
“I have no afternoon classes, so I will be making all the games,” added sophomore Mya Fuhr.
After a whirlwind offseason full of events that included attending the Olympics, red carpet events, and a visit to the White House, to name a few, Staley is ready to get back to the grind.
“We’re back, we’re back into the swing of things,” Staley said enthusiastically. “This really is my happy place—being in practice and getting our team to where it needs to be, so we can continue to make our fans happy and proud.”
The Gamecocks' regular season officially starts on Nov. 4, but their home opener at Colonial Life Arena will be on Nov. 14 against Coppin State.